The goal for the No. 14 C. Milton Wright softball team yesterday was to put the ball in play, no easy task against Hammond All-Metro pitcher Stephanie Speierman.
The Mustangs were able to do just that, though, scoring three times in the third inning and getting a fine pitching performance from Brittany Favazzo to come away with a 3-0 upset win over the No. 5 Golden Bears.
Favazzo allowed just four hits, striking out 12 batters to out-duel Speierman, who went 23-1 last season and pitched a perfect game in the Class 2A state championship game.
The Mustangs (2-1) used a walk, two singles, three bunts and two Hammond errors to score the three runs in the third inning.
It was more than enough for Favazzo, who was in complete control with good pitch selection and accuracy.
"We figured going up against Stephanie Speierman, we had to do anything we could to put the ball in play, and we were able to do that," C.M. Wright first-year coach Russ Kovach said. "And Brittany mixed and matched it up real well. She had a great day with the strikeouts and trusts the fielders behind her."
Second baseman Nicole Berardi, the Mustangs' ninth hitter, walked and scored the game's first run and also had two singles. The Bears (0-1) got a triple from Speierman and two singles from Brittany Hazzard.
Baseball
Calvert Hall, ranked No. 1 by The Sun and Baseball America, fell to 0-2 in the National Classic in Anaheim, Calif., with a 10-1 loss to Aptos (Calif.) yesterday.
The Cardinals (2-2) had their 39-game winning streak dating to 2006 end Monday night in a 12-6 loss to host El Dorado (Calif.).
Junior All-Metro shortstop Patrick Blair went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs for Calvert Hall in the loss to El Dorado at Cal State Fullerton.
Calvert Hall meets Cottonwood (Utah), a 19-10 loser to Christian Brothers (Tenn.), today at 3 p.m.
PAT O'MALLEY
Girls lacrosse
Maryvale 16, No. 14 North Harford 10 -- Sophia Thomas' five-goal effort helped the Lions defeat the Hawks in the season opener for both teams. Shannon Bone paced North Harford with four goals.
No. 15 Roland Park 12, Notre Dame Prep 10 -- The Reds trailed 8-5 at halftime and 10-6 in the second half before a streak of six unanswered goals. Laura Simanski led the charge for Roland Park (1-0) with four goals, and Jane Randall (12 saves) made key second-half stops.
Boys lacrosse
No. 3 Calvert Hall 14, Landon 6 -- Sean Maguire scored a game-high four goals in the Cardinals' win over the Bears. Tony Rossi had three goals and Jason McFadden had a game-high four assists for Calvert Hall (4-0).